Monday 26th November

Hello to this week's blog!


Christmas Production


Year 4 children should have come home last week knowing what part they are in our Christmas production. We have had opportunity for a couple of read throughs (and some of the children are already doing very well learning their lines). But it would be fantastic if you could help them at home with learning their lines (remember it's also important for them to know the line before so they can come in in the right place). Details of costume have been given out too. You will no doubt have noticed a very 'creepy crawly' theme to them. Year 3 (as I mentioned in previous weeks) will be the choir and the dancers in our show - they are already learning the songs and once the play is more prepared they will be learning their dance routines! We appreciate that time is definitely ticking on and so we will be working very hard over the next couple of weeks to get our performance just right. We have been really impressed by how hard they are all working and eagerly look forward to our two performances soon.


Please take the time to refresh the story of Christmas with your child. The following links should help.

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/christianity/nativity/index.htm - a simple online version of the nativity story to share with your child.
http://www.snaithprimary.eril.net/nativity.htm - another version with pictures to print out.


Holy Communion


Year 3 parents should have received a letter about what the children need to wear for their Holy Communion. Just in case it gets 'tidied safely away' here it is:


GIRLS


White dresses - knee/calf length
White head dress and veil
White socks or tights

White shoes/sandals

White cardigan (optional)

Gloves/bags/parasols/rosary beads may be used on photographs only.



Medals will be provided on the day

BOYS


Long sleeved white shirt

First Communion tie (navy blue with yellow logo - purchase from Rohan Uniform Shop)

Grey knee length shorts

Grey knee length socks

Black shoes

A gold sash and medal will be provided by school on the day. Sashes are to be returned.


We are still waiting for final confirmation of the dates for Holy Communion and we will communicate the date as soon as possible.


LITERACY

Alongside the Christmas play we will be continuing with 'normal' lessons as much as possible. We are still looking at improving our writing skills and will be challenging ourselves to use ambitious vocabulary, time phrases, connectives and speech. Have a look at the links below to inspire creative writing:

http://www.kidsonthenet.org.uk/diff/index.htmhttp://www.midlandit.co.uk/education/interactivestoryguide.htm - story writing tips and a chance to write your own pirate story.I found these great stories with lots of different activities attached - develop your reading and writing skills in one go:

http://www.nwlg.org/pages/resources/owl/OWL4Book1/Book10/default.htm - year 4

http://www.nwlg.org/pages/resources/owl/OWL3Book1/Book01/default.htm - year 3

There's even a year 5 one if you want to really challenge yourself. http://www.nwlg.org/pages/resources/owl/OWL5Book1/1/story/index.html


If you could continue to work on spellings that would be fantastic. Here's just a reminder of some of the useful spelling links we've used so far this year:

http://www.funbrain.com/plurals/index.html - can you remember your plural rules?

http://www.fekids.com/kln/games/whomp/whomp.html - how many words can you make? (think Boggle).


http://www.vocabulary.co.il/http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/spellits/index.shtml - lots of spelling games.


http://www.funbrain.com/brain/ReadingBrain/ReadingBrain.html - some funny games to try.


NUMERACY


The children are really buzzing and excited to learn their tables so here are lots of sites to keep that enthusiasm bubbling:


www.dostiey.com/addsub/mystery/M.htmwww.osmego.org/oscd-web/games/sumsense/summulti.htmwww.mathsisfun.com/timetables.html


http://www.wmnet.org.uk/wmnet/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/851/Hitthebuttonv7.swf

http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/Ghostblasters1/gbcd.html


http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/multiples/intro.htm

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/moonmaths.swf - an old favourite.

http://www.primarysite-kidszone.co.uk/KidsZone/resources/Math-Asteroids.html - a brand new game to try - make sure you give it a go.

In Miss Robinson's Numeracy Group we will be finishing off our Data Handling topic and will be moving onto a big review of basic number skills of addition and subtraction. Mrs Bethell's group will also be reviewing and extending their skills with addition and subtraction. Make sure you have a look at the sites below:

http://www.mathszone.co.uk/ - NUMBER FACTS +/- and CALCULATING MATHS +/- Section

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/numbers/ch1.shtml - ladybird number work - concentrates on facts up to 20.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/numbers/ch3.shtml - laybird addition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/numbers/ch2.shtml - lady bird subtraction

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=fmach - you can set the challenge for the function machine

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=PYRAMID3 - my class really enjoyed investigating pyramid numbers.

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=number%20guess2 - guess the number game.

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/gameshoweasy.html - a game to play with the whole family that practises rapid recall of basic number facts and skills.

http://www.joethedragon.co.uk/maths/addsub.html - we may get onto column addition and subtraction - this is a super site!

We also set ourselves the challenge of knowing all our number pairs to 100 - and this is a really tough challenge so any extra work that you could do at home would be fantastic and would make such a difference!

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=digitmenu

Mrs Harding's Math's group will be finishing off working with pictograms and moving on to the measurement of time including the twenty four hour clock. If your child has any difficulties being able to tell the time practise with them during the day.

Start off with o'clock and half past.

Next do quarter to and quarter past.

Gradually introduce all the past times and the others.


Please remember that this really works over a couple of weeks and if you keep at it you will be amazed as to how many times your child will be able to remember. Also a watch could make a great present off Santa!

By the end of the week your child: (If your child can already tell the time.)

Could be able to read time to the nearest minute on an analogue and digital clock.

Could be able to use am and pm and calculate intervals of time.

Should be able to read the time to the nearest minute on analogue and digital clocks.

Must be able to read and draw a pictogram

http://www.arcytech.org/java/clock/telling_time.html

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/mathsE2.htm

http://www.mathsisfun.com/time.html

http://www.cyberbee.com/games/timeteacher.html

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/mathsF1.htm

The children had great success with answering a 100 timestables in 7 minutes. Twenty children managed to achieve one of the awards in the group. Again look out for their names in the newsletter. Well done to all children who are busy learning their tables! Parents have never seen their children so keen to learn their tables!!

SPANISH

Check that you know your colours and your numbers.

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/colour-spanish.html - colours

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/number-spanish.html - numbers

That's all for now - with all the practises for the performance this week is going to be a very busy one!

Have a safe and happy week.
Take care.

The Year 3/4 Team